Soccer will open at home due to rain

The women's soccer team has been practicing for the season opener, which will now be held against Auburn University at Montegomery due to rain from Tropical Storm Hermine (Photo Credit: Kimberly Cannon/THE SPECTATOR)

The VSU women’s soccer team has their first game of the season today against Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida at 7:00 p.m.)

In preparation for tropical storm Hermine, the VSU women’s soccer team’s first game of the season against Saint Leo University has been canceled. The new opener will be at home against Auburn University at Montgomery in Valdosta at the VSU Soccer Complex at 5:00 p.m.

“We have been focusing on ourselves during preseason and trying to get a few kinks out,” Rebecca Nolin, VSU head women’s soccer coach said. “Our main priority is to make sure we are organized in all positions so everybody knows their roles.”

Coach Nolin said the team was starting to focus on upcoming opponents they will face. The team has been training and had an inter-squad scrimmage this past weekend to practice for future games.

Rebecca Nolin said she has confidence in her players’ abilities this season.

“We expect to win all home games and qualify for the conference tournament,” Nolin said.

The VSU women’s soccer team was the Gulf South Conference (GSC) Champion in 2014.

With 11 freshman and 5 transfers on the Blazer’s women’s soccer team, more than half of the roster this year consists of new members on the team.

However, Coach Nolin views all of her players, new and returning, as valuable assets for the team.

“All players are key for us in all positions,” Nolin said. “We need our forwards to score goals, midfielders to create and score goals, defenders to prevent goals and the same with our goalkeepers. Our players off the bench are also very important for us. We have great depth this year and are very fortunate to have them come off the bench and keep the level very high and competitive.”

Madison Cutts, a returning sophomore who plays as forward and midfielder, was the leading goal scorer for the team last season, scoring three goals, two of which were during the game against Clayton State in which the team won.

The team also includes two new goalkeepers, freshman Ashley Thompson and junior Alyssa Curtis was chosen as one of the top newcomers to the GSC along with freshman midfielder Brittney Benedict, according to the 2016 GSC women’s soccer preseason release. Curtis and Thompson will take on the position which was left open by VSU Alumnus McCall Gardner, who was a member of the 2015 All-GSC Women’s Soccer First Team.

Coach Nolin said the same goal for the team this season as she has had for the team in previous seasons.

“Our expectations always remain the same each year, which is to win and challenge for the Conference title.” Coach Nolin said.